Question about dose and rate

Specialties PICU

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  • Specializes in Med/Surg., Geriatrics, Pediatrics..

I suddenly got confused about rate and dose when documenting. The formula is Nutren, the dose is 240cc and the rate is 360. Now the rate is suppose to be 240 so the formula can infuse in one hour, but the parent wants the rate at 360, so the formula infuses in about 35/45 minutes. No matter what, the child gets 240cc of formula in about 35/45 minutes. I hope I didn't confuse anyone. When I document I write: Nutren started at 240/hr via g-tube/pump. Is that right, or should it read: Nutren started at 360/hr via g-tube/pump. Should I write: Nutren infusing at 240/hr or 360/hr via g-tube/pump? How would you write this?

imaginations

125 Posts

240mL of formula delivered via gastrostomy at a rate of 360mL/hr.

That covers the actual amount of formula and the rate at which you delivered it.

nurse4sale

61 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg., Geriatrics, Pediatrics..
240mL of formula delivered via gastrostomy at a rate of 360mL/hr.

That covers the actual amount of formula and the rate at which you delivered it.

Thanks so much, imaginations.

nurse4sale

61 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg., Geriatrics, Pediatrics..
240mL of formula delivered via gastrostomy at a rate of 360mL/hr.

That covers the actual amount of formula and the rate at which you delivered it.

I get confused at the 360/hr because it's not infusing in one hour, it's infusing in 45minutes. So could we say at a rate of 360/min? The rate use to be 240ml infusing at a rate of 240/hr, and the formula did infuse over one hour. Do you see what I'm talking about? Help me out here.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist

NotReady4PrimeTime, RN

5 Articles; 7,358 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

If you look at this equation as dose (volume)-over-time that might help. You have a dose of 240 mL to deliver over 45 minutes. What rate will you set to accomplish this, given that your pump is designed to deliver mL/hr? 240 mL/45 min = x mL/60 min. The math in imaginations' post is faulty, because in this equation x = 320 and not 360. Basically, if you put 240 mL of feed in the bag and set the rate on the pump at 320 mL/hr, your feed will be delivered to the patient in 5 minutes and your bag will then be empty. Does that make sense?

nurse4sale

61 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg., Geriatrics, Pediatrics..

Thanks, janfrn, that does make sense. :)

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

As an aside, you should also make sure that you have a physician's order to run the pump at 360 mL/hr, if this is not what the original feeding order says.

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